In what proved to be a problematic case for prosecutors, the Jefferson Parish district attorney's office announced Friday it will not retry three men accused of murdering an alleged crack dealer in Marrero 18 years ago.

Glenn D. Davis Jr., Terrence Meyers and Larry Delmore were convicted in 1993 of killing Samuel George and spent 14 to 16 years of their life sentences in prison for the Aug. 3, 1992 crime they have denied committing.

Their convictions were tossed out in recent years, after new defense attorneys say they uncovered evidence showing that the original prosecutors withheld information from their trial attorney, who defended them despite knowing that another of his clients was a suspect in George's death.

Free on bond while awaiting retrial on second-degree murder charges, the three men appeared Friday before Judge Patrick McCabe of the 24th Judicial District Court for a status hearing when Assistant District Attorney David Hufft dismissed the case.

"Our decision not to retry was based on, one, the sole eyewitness who identified the three defendants is deceased and, two, evidence developed by the defense since the order of new trial," First Assistant District Attorney Steve Wimberly said later Friday.

The Innocence Project New Orleans, which helped investigate the case, provided its new information to prosecutors, who agreed to review the case, said Emily Maw, the group's executive director.

"They made a right and sensible decision to not retry the case, and for that we're grateful," Maw said.

George, 34, was shot twice while standing at Cabildo Lane and East Claiborne Parkway, by a gunman who fired from a passing car.

Minutes after the dismissal, Davis, Meyers and Delmore huddled in the Jefferson Parish Courthouse in Gretna with family members, celebrating quietly their release and posing together for photographs.

"I'm excited, just trying to take it all in," said Davis, 37, of Marrero. "It's been so long."Delmore, 40, of New Orleans, was all smiles. "Finally," is all he would say.

"I feel wonderful," added Meyers, 39, of Avondale.

Much of their newfound freedom ironically comes thanks to their original defense attorney, Anderson Council. According to new defense attorneys, Council also represented Derek "Blake" Richardson on unrelated narcotics charges and, knowing he was a suspect in George's killing and providing legal advice. That duel representation created a conflict that adversely affected his defense of Davis, Meyers and Delmore, the new attorneys say.

The new attorneys also say they uncovered evidence showing that Richardson killed George. He was gunned down outside his Avondale home in 1993, in an unrelated crime.

Further complicating the case was that the only eyewitness, Norman Jackson, was shot to death in New Orleans in 2003, leaving prosecutors with his testimony from the 1993 trial. New defense attorneys also say a witness came forward with claims that Jackson wasn't at the scene.•••••••Paul Purpura can be reached at ppurpura@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3791.